Movie review: The Amazing Spider-Man 2’ is a web of fun

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By Dana BarbutoMore Content Now

St. James Plaindealer - St. James, MN

By Dana BarbutoMore Content Now

Posted May. 1, 2014 at 1:00 AM

By Dana BarbutoMore Content Now

Posted May. 1, 2014 at 1:00 AM

It’s a franchise that didn’t need a reboot, but here we are with “The Amazing Spider-Man 2.” And, this second installment in director Marc Webb’s take on the wise-cracking webslinger is, simply put, fun.

A director with romantic sensibilities, Webb (“500 Days of Summer”) wisely exploits the strength of his first movie: the chemistry between Spider-Man’s alter-ego Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) and Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone). They are the story’s emotional anchor, and they are just plain adorable. Swooning might ensue whenever Peter kisses Gwen, especially that peck during high school graduation, or the one high atop the city with the Queensboro Bridge as a backdrop. Stone is as intelligent and energetic as ever, with more to do this go-round, while Garfield has fully grown into his red-and-blue latex suit. He’s more confident and relaxed, his senses are sharper and he’s having fun that feels infectious. He playfully hums Spider-Man’s theme song (it’s his ringtone, too) and squares off with kindly, doting Aunt May (Sally Field) over doing laundry. You turn everything red and blue, she tells him.

When we catch up with Peter, he’s facing all sorts of anxieties. Besides being orphaned and burdened with guilt over the death of his Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen), there’s that promise he made to a dying Capt. Stacy (Denis Leary) to stay away from Gwen in order to keep her safe. But you can’t quell the desires of first love for long. Plus, Garfield and Stone, also a couple offscreen, are too combustible to keep apart. The movie is nothing without them.

Other than one gutsy plot twist, the script, credited to four screenwriters, is largely superhero business as usual. Spider-Man has a trio of villains (Jamie Foxx, Paul Giamatti and Dane DeHaan) to contend with, and in telling their stories – and backstories – the narrative gets convoluted. But, again, the casting compensates.

Like the first movie, the sequel opens with that fateful night Peter’s parents disappeared, only this time told from their perspective. From there, the movie struggles to find its footing, as it sluggishly fleshes out the villains. It’s never a bore, though, thanks to the pure spectacle. It’s a marvel to watch Spider-Man scale walls, sling webs and flit from place to place keeping Manhattan safe from thugs and thieves. As one character says, Spider-Man is our symbol of hope.

And hope is a precious commodity with their way of life threatened by three villains, led by the terrific DeHaan (“The Place Beyond the Pines”) as Peter’s friend Harry Osborn, aka the Green Goblin. DeHaan nearly steals the whole film from Garfield’s sticky grip, as his character descends into desperation, thinking Spider-Man betrayed him. He’s especially strong in an early scene opposite Oscar-winner Chris Cooper as the kid’s ruthless father, Norman, the founder of the nefarious Oscorp Industries, where Peter’s father also worked. Seems papa Parker discovered how to cross-pollinate species. If his research were to fall into the wrong hands, bad things would – and do – happen.

Page 2 of 2 - As Max Dillon, the nerdy loner who becomes the angry blue-faced Electro, Foxx surprisingly supplies little juice to a guy with the power to control electricity. The character just isn’t well-drawn, leaving you craving more DeHaan and less Foxx.

Then there’s Giamatti’s Rhino, whose crazed eyes and sinister smile add needed menace. He appears in only two scenes, but enticingly promises to have a much larger role in “Spidey 3.”

The ensuing action is quite a rush. But it’s the film’s quieter moments that resonate loudest. Field again lends perspective and poignancy, especially in a scene where Aunt May reveals information to Peter about his father. Peter’s relationship with May is topped only by his romance with Gwen. “You’re my boy,” May tells Peter. Pass the tissues.

Per usual, Spider-Man creator Stan Lee shows up for a subtle cameo. He doesn’t miss out on the fun, neither should you.